EDC 102: Introduction to American Education

Class Schedule and Assignments

Fall 2010


Schedule and Assignments

Note: Readings and assignments are due the day listed.

#1 – 9/13


• Introductions

• Syllabus Review
• Introduction to wiki
• What do YOU already know about public education?
• Discussion: Is teaching a profession?
• Challenges affecting teachers
• Group brainstorm questions about schools, communities, districts
_

#2 – 9/20

• Introduction to Savage Inequalities
• Context Statement assignments/instruction and rubric for Context Statemen
• Sharing and peer editing of Expertise Statements
• Introduction to annotation
• Discussion: Who is teaching in public schools? What are the characteristics of a “good” school?
• Developing a policy issues database

Read:
• FAE Chapter 1: Teaching as a Profession
Do:
• Find online quizzes and do Chapter 1 Online Practice Test. Send results to me.
• Prepare an Expertise Statement: Describe something you know well and how you learned it (1+ pages; print out and bring to class)
• Watch “What is a wiki” on Youtube
• Purchase Savage Inequalities
_

#3 – 9/27
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
Library Workshop:
• How do we use evidence to describe a school or community?
• How do we distinguish credible and appropriate sources?
• How do we add statistics to our Context Statements?
• Gathering/sharing evidence about our schools
Read:
• FAE Chapter 2: Diversity in Society
Savage Inequalities Chapter 1
Do:
• Chapter 2 Online Practice Test
• Revise your Personal Expertise Statement based on editor feedback and post to wiki.
• Explore RI schools online. Consider schools/districts for you Context Statement.
_

#4 – 10/04
• Sociological perspectives in education: How will you address sociological issues in your classroom?

• Introduction to multicultural perspectives in education: what are some of the policy issues related to cultural pressures in American education?
• Residual effects of historical American educational decisions, practices, and policies
• Gathering/sharing evidence about our schools
• Discussion: Savage Inequalities


Read:
• FAE Chapter 3: Sociological Perspectives on Students and Families (Skim Chapter 4)
Savage Inequalities Chapter 2
Do:
• Chapter 3 Online Practice Tests
• Make a final decision about a school to research for your Context Statement. Begin research
_

#5 – 10/12 (TUESDAY)

We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
Library Workshop:
• Gathering and evidence to describe a school or community.
• Selecting credible sources
• Adding statistics, images, graphs, and other data to our Context Statements.


Read:
• FAE Chapter 4: Multicultural Perspectives in Education
Savage Inequalities Chapter 3
Do:
• Chapter 4 Online Practice Test

_

#6 – 10/18
• What are some of the educational policy issues that have developed from competing philosophical orientations?
• Activity: What is my theoretical orientation?
• Discussion: Savage Inequalities
• Discussion: Implications of divergent philosophies in classroom practice

Read:
• FAE Chapter 9: Philosophy: Reflections on the Essence of Education
• Savage Inequalities Chapter 4
Do:
• Context Statement (due 10/25)
• Chapter 9 Online Practice Test
_

#7 – 10/25
Context Statements due before class. Post to wiki.
Please bring your laptop to class.
• Peer review/editing Context Statements
• Building a personal educational philosophy: Personal perspectives

Read:
• FAE Chapter 10: Building an Educational Philosophy for a Changing World
Do:
• Context Statement
(no quiz)
_

#8 – 11/01
Final revision of Context Statements due. Post to wiki.
• What are some of the policy issues related to funding of American public education?
• Teacher involvement in politics
• Share educational philosophies

• Activity: North South East West
• Form Educational Issue groups


Read:
• FAE Chapter 5: Organizing and Paying for Education in a Changing World
Savage Inequalities Chapter 5

Do:
• Chapter 5 Online Practice Test
• Choose two or three educational philosophers/schools of thought that appeal to you or match your own feelings about schooling. Explain why. Post to wiki.
• Peer edit at least one context report
_

#9 – 11/08
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
• Developing a policy position on one of the many issues that have arisen in class
• Evaluating sources/determining opinion, judgment, and fact
• Compiling an annotated bibliography
• Work groups

Read:
• FAE Chapter 6: Legal Perspectives of Education
Savage Inequalities Chapter 6
Do:
• Chapter 6 Online Practice Test
• Post SI thoughts for discussion on wiki
_

#10 – 11/15
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
• What are some of the policy issues surrounding education and the law?
• What are some of the policy issues related to standards-based education, assessment, and accountability systems?
• Developing a group research question
• Beyond PowerPoint: Presentation methods
• Work groups

Read:
• FAE Chapter 11: Standards-Based Education and Assessment of Student Learning
Do:
• Chapter 11 Online Practice Test
• Prepare a written response to Discussion Question 1 on page 388. Bring to class.
_
.
#11 – 11/22
Please bring your laptop and other materials for your policy presentations to class.
• Work groups
• Curriculum and policy: Federal, state, local, or teacher's choice?
• Final discussion: Savage Inequalities



Read:
• FAE Chapter 12: Designing Programs for Learners: Curriculum and Instruction
Do:
• Chapter 12 Online Practice Test
• Review Savage Inequalities. Prepare 5 discussion questions and bring to class.
Post annotated bibliography to wiki in final form.
_

#12 –11/29
• Educational Issues Presentations
• Chapter 7 and 8 jigsaw

Read:
• FAE Chapter 7 and 8

Do:
• Chapter 7 and/or 8 Online Practice Test
_

#13 – 12/6
Educational Issues Presentations
Course Evaluations/Reflection


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#14 – Final exam




This schedule is posted for planning purposes. Assignments/due dates/activities are subject to revision by instructor to best meet developing class strengths and needs.